Matchup: Lsu Vs. Baylor

April 3, 2005|Steve Gorten

Backcourt: LSU's 5-foot-3 senior PG Temeka Johnson has averaged nine assists -- best nationally -- in the tournament. Much of that has to do with All-American Seimone Augustus (20.1 ppg), who is effective slashing to the basket and making mid-range jumpers. Baylor PG Chelsea Whitaker (4.8 ppg, 5.1 apg) lacks Johnson's experience, but has improved. Baylor is at its best when Chameka Scott (7.8 ppg) is shooting well, but she's been inconsistent.

Edge: LSU.

Frontcourt: Baylor F Sophia Young (18.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg) and C Steffanie Blackmon (15.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg) form the best frontcourt tandem in the Final Four. Both Blackmon and Young, the nation's second-leading scorer (22.8) during the tournament, attack the basket. They've got experience on LSU's trio of forwards, Sylvia Fowles, Tillie Willis and Wendlyn Jones, who've combined for 19.8 points and 17.7 rebounds this season.

Edge: Baylor.

Bench: Neither team is very deep, though LSU boasts arguably the nation's best player without a career start. Fowles, a freshman from Miami Edison, has averaged 11.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks with 11 double-doubles while playing 21.6 minutes a game. Forward Emily Niemann (9.4 ppg) is Baylor's top reserve and third-leading scorer, shooting 46 percent from behind the arc. Fowles logged 33 minutes in the Elite Eight to overcome Duke.

Edge: LSU.

Coaching: LSU's Pokey Chatman, the acting coach for ailing Sue Gunter during last year's Final Four, was named National Coach of the Year her first official season. A former All-American player, Chatman led LSU to the school's first regular-season SEC title and the best regular-season record in school history. Kim Mulkey-Robertson just earned a new six-year contract after leading Baylor, which had never made the NCAA Tournament before her arrival in 2000, to its first Big 12 regular season and tournament title. Baylor has won at least 21 games every season under Mulkey-Robertson. Chatman's a rising star but still building experience.